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Floppy, SmartMedia *and* Compact Flash?!? VST Tri-Media Reader Reviewed

by Paul Cesarini

VST

SRP/SP:	$139.95/$120
Requirements:	Mac OS 8.5.1 or higher, available USB port
What's Hot:	Compact, works, removes the need for a hub (in some cases)
What's Not:	Manual ejection of media, can't handle old 800k disks

Frustrated by the over-abundance of digital media standards? Unsure what to do with a digital camera that takes SmartMedia, an MP3 player that takes Compact Flash, and a friend that insists on using floppy disks? Not to worry. VST, uber-manufacturer of PowerBook peripherals, has created the PowerBook equivalent of the "Batman utility belt". This device, called the Tri-Media Reader, reads and writes floppy disks, SmartMedia, and Compact Flash-based media -- all in one compact form factor. Connection is a snap, and the device works as advertised.

The device is a marvel in simplicity: There's the reader itself (in a sleek graphite & ice scheme), a USB cable, and a CD with both Mac and Windows drivers. No AC adapter is needed. Just install the driver, restart the computer, connect the device, and you're in business. Transferring files from a digital camera is lightning fast, between 500 - 800KB/sec, thanks to the speediness of SmartMedia and Compact Flash. Floppy disks are another story, of course, and will poke along at barely 20KB/sec. There are several types of Sony Mavica cameras out there that still use this media, though, as does the Panasonic PalmCam.

VST touts the Tri-Media Reader as being a "hub-free" solution, meaning it combines three traditionally separate USB devices into a single one, that uses a single port. Technically this is accurate -- if this was one of the only USB devices being used. Most of us, however, have a plethora of graphic tablets, printers, input devices, hard drives, and related USB peripherals. The Tri-Media Reader certainly does reduce some of the desktop clutter, though, and it does cost slightly less than what separate floppy drives and SmartMedia/Compact Flash readers would normally go for.

Using the Tri-Media Reader is pain-free. Virtually no errors occurred after prolonged testing on a PowerBook G3/300, and a Rev B iMac (both running OS 9.0.4). Connecting and disconnecting the device while the two systems were awake, asleep, and off produced no problems. About the only glitch experienced happened when disconnecting the device while transferring data from a floppy disk. This locked the system up. In retrospect, it probably wasn't such a good thing to do, anyway.

The Tri-Media Reader has few downsides, all of which are fairly insignificant. It won't read old-style 5 volt SmartMedia cards, so those of you with QuickTake 200 cameras (myself included) are out of luck. On the plus side, you can't accidentally insert a 5 volt SmartMedia card, as they are notched differently than the current, 3.3 volt ones. As with many USB floppy drives, the Tri-Media Reader won't read 800k Mac-formatted disks. While not a huge concern, some will undoubtedly vex over the inability to install Stratego or other classic games. Such is life.

Unfortunately, media doesn't auto-eject. While I fully realize we Mac users have been spoiled by auto-ejecting zip disks, floppy disks, etc., I just can't get used to dragging a disk to the trash and having nothing happen.

There are some minor discrepancies between the device, the press releases, and the manual. For example, the press release states full compatibility with IBM Microdrives (also known as CF+ media). However, the readme file flatly contradicts this by stating that it is "not advisable" to use the device with this media. In addition, there is an undocumented Kensington-style security slot on the back of the Tri-Media Reader. A quick email to VST indicated that CF+ is indeed supported and the security slot is indeed there. Updates to the written documentation are apparently forthcoming.

If there were a wish list for future enhancements to this device, I'd opt for a SuperDisk version, or possibly one that also reads Multimedia Cards (MMC). Would it then be a "Quad-Media Reader", or "Quint-Media Reader"? Who knows. All I know is the more functionality you can cram into it, the better. Auto-eject media would be nice, as well. Aside from my own personal biases, though, the VST Tri-Media Reader is an excellent addition to any road warrior's Bat Mobile ...I mean, PowerBook.